Keeping in Step with the Spirit

Guided by the Spirit of the Holy One, the path through the wilderness is never without light.

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

– Galatians 5:16–17 (NKJV)

The Need for Constant Reliance

The life of covenant faithfulness is not a sprint to be run in our own strength; it is a continual walk, a journey that demands unbroken reliance upon the Spirit of the Holy One. Sha’ul’s words to the believers in Galatia were not casual encouragements; they were covenant instructions. To “walk in the Spirit” is to live every moment yielded to the Spirit, allowing that divine presence to shape our thoughts, desires, and actions so they align with the revealed Word of YHWH.

Yet this walk is not without opposition. The flesh, our old nature that resists the Royal Torah written on our hearts, pushes back at every step. And the Spirit pushes back against the flesh. These two are set in opposition, not in compromise. The daily battle is real, and it is decisive.

Small Resistances, Big Consequences

We often imagine spiritual rebellion in terms of grand betrayals or public falls from faith. But in truth, the most frequent and dangerous blockages happen quietly, when we resist the Spirit in small, hidden ways.

It could be weariness: that tired unwillingness to do the good we know to do. It could be stubbornness: digging our heels in against a change the Spirit has been pressing upon our hearts. It could be outright rebellion: knowingly acting against what we have been clearly shown.

These acts may seem insignificant in the moment, but they carry weight because they harden the heart. Every time we push back, we dull our spiritual sensitivity. Over time, what was once a sharp conviction becomes a faint whisper, and eventually, a silence we can no longer hear.

The Spirit’s Knowledge of Our Need

The most humbling truth is that the Spirit of God knows us far better than we know ourselves. This divine presence is intimately aware of the hidden places that still cling to the patterns of the flesh. The Spirit sees the attitudes that will trip us tomorrow and the unhealed wounds that will tempt us to self-protection.

Because the Voice we hear is the Spirit of Truth, the leading we receive is never random. If an issue is pressed to the forefront of our attention, it is because it is the very thing that must be addressed for our growth, our protection, and our usefulness in the Kingdom.

To ignore such leading is not simply to reject a good idea, it is to reject the wisdom of Elohim who sees the end from the beginning.

The Danger of Taking Back Control

The danger in the walk of faith is our tendency to start in the Spirit but then take back control in the flesh. We begin by yielding, allowing the Spirit to empower our steps, and then, almost without noticing, we start directing the journey ourselves.

Sometimes this shift happens out of fear: we think if we don’t take charge, everything will fall apart. Sometimes it happens out of pride: we assume we’ve “got this” now and no longer need moment-by-moment guidance. And sometimes it’s just plain forgetfulness: we drift, distracted by the demands of life, and lose sight of the One who is supposed to be leading.

But when we seize the reins, we inevitably steer away from the covenant path. The flesh cannot sustain the work of the Spirit; it will always pull toward self-centeredness, toward shortcuts, toward compromise.

Walking as a Continual Act of Surrender

To walk in the Spirit is to remain in a posture of continual surrender. It is not merely about obeying a single prompting or saying “yes” to a one-time call. It is about learning to breathe with the Spirit of the Holy One, inhale the life given, exhale the desires of the flesh.

It is about aligning our pace to that leading. Sometimes the Spirit moves us swiftly through certain seasons and slowly through others. Sometimes there is a call to speak boldly, and other times to remain silent. Our part is to stay attuned, flexible, and obedient.

This kind of walking requires trust. We trust that the timing is perfect. We trust that the instructions are wise. We trust that even the detours are purposeful.

Practical Ways to Keep in Step

• Daily Surrender – Begin each day with a deliberate yielding of your will, your plans, and your attitudes to the Spirit.

  
  

• Scripture Saturation – Keep your heart filled with the revealed Word so you can quickly discern whether a thought is from the Spirit or from the flesh.

  
  

• Quick Repentance – When you sense you have resisted or quenched the Spirit, confess it immediately and realign. Delay only strengthens the flesh’s grip.

  
  

• Listening Spaces – Build pauses into your day when you intentionally quiet the noise and listen for the Spirit’s leading.

  
  

• Obedience in the Small Things – Train yourself to say “yes” to the seemingly minor instructions; they prepare you for the larger assignments.

  
  

The Fruit of Reliance

Sha’ul doesn’t end Galatians 5 with a warning, he ends with a promise. Those who walk in the Spirit will bear fruit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. These are not self-produced virtues; they are the natural overflow of a life fully surrendered to the Will of God.

When we allow this divine presence to lead, we not only overcome the pull of the flesh, we begin to reflect the very character of Yeshua. And that is the ultimate goal: to be conformed to His image so that the world may see Him through us.

Spirit of the Holy One, Breath of the Almighty, I come to You this morning in humility and need. You know me better than I know myself. You see the hidden places where my heart still resists Your leading. You know the subtle compromises I excuse, the weary moments when I pull back from obedience, the stubborn corners where I cling to my own way.

I confess that apart from You, I cannot walk the covenant path. My flesh pulls against You, and without Your strength, I will follow its lead. I choose today to surrender my will, my plans, and my attitudes into Your hands.

Lead me in the way everlasting. Make me sensitive to Your whispers and courageous in my obedience. When I begin to take back control, convict me quickly and bring me back to the place of yieldedness. Teach me to walk in step with You, not rushing ahead, not lagging behind, but moving in the rhythm of Your life-giving breath.

Fill me afresh with Your power, Your wisdom, and Your love. Let the fruit You produce in me testify of Yeshua’s work, that the Father may be glorified.

I thank You for never abandoning me, even in my moments of resistance. I rest in Your faithfulness and place my full trust in Your guidance today.

In the name of Yeshua Messiah, the Covenant King, I pray.Amein.